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REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Report #F2011–1; November 2011
In this report the Academic Standards Committee (ASC) brings to Senate its evaluation and recommendation
on a number of items.
Miscellaneous Modifications
An academic variation from the School of Nursing
A revised grading scheme from the School of Health Services Management
Curriculum Modifications
Curriculum Modifications to the Bachelor of Commerce (Business Management) Economics and
Management Science Major
Curriculum Modifications to the Bachelor of Arts (International Economics and Finance) in order to
harmonize with the Common Arts Platform
Curriculum modifications to the Bachelor of Science in Biology program
Changes to regular program
Changes to the options in Biophysics and Computational Biology
A new option in Environmental Biology
Minors
A change in the name of the Minor in Business Communication to Minor in Professional
Communication
Revisions to the Minor in Biology
Revisions to the Minor in Economics
Revisions to the Minor in Public Administration
Revisions to the Minor in Politics
A new Minor in Business Essentials from the Ted Rogers School of Management
A new Minor in Physics from the Department of Physics
A new Minor in Labour and Employment Relations from the Department if Human Resources
Management and Organizational Behaviour
A. ACADEMIC VARIATION- SCHOOL OF NURSING
Proposal: The School of Nursing proposes an academic variation for the course BLG 10A/B (Anatomy and Physiology). The proposed variation is that a failure (F-grade) in this first year course will place students on academic Probation.
Rationale: BLG 10A/B is a required course for first-year Nursing students. It is a co-requisite for all courses
in the first year of the program. It is also a pre-requisite for second year Nursing courses. Under the School’s
current academic variation policy, failure in any Nursing course places a student on Probation. Since BLG
10A/B is a co-requisite course, a failure in BLG 10A/B should have the same consequences as a failure in any
other pre-requisite course.
Proposal: The School of Nursing proposed that the following text be added to the program’s table of
academic variations: “C-' or below in any Theory* course and/or an 'F' in any Practice† course or BLG
10A/B”.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
Academic Variation for BLG 10A/B proposed by the School of Nursing.
B. REVISED GRADING SCHEME IN THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH SERVICES
MANAGEMENT
Proposal: To revise the grading scheme for the two Practicum Seminar courses HSM418 (Practicum Seminar) and HIM407 (Practicum Seminar) from the current Pass/Fail model to one based on letter grades.
Rationale: The Practicum Seminar courses play the role of capstone courses in the Health Services
Management and Health Information Management degree completion programs. The courses consist of a
large-scale research project at an independent site, culminating in a written report, and oral presentation
and peer review. The bulk of the practicum is records and/or research-based, and students work
independently with the help of a faculty member or preceptor at the practicum site.
Furthermore, all other courses in the Health Services Management and Health Information Management
degree completion programs are currently graded with a letter grade system. The proposed change would
therefore also make the grading of the Practicum Seminar courses consistent with the approach used in all
other program courses.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
Grading Scheme Modification for Practicum Seminar Courses in the Health Services Management
and Health Information Management Degree Completion Programs.
C. CURRICULUM MODIFICATIONS TO THE BACHELOR OF COMMERCE
(BUSINESS MANAGEMENT) ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE MAJOR
Proposal: The Economics and Management Science (EMS) curriculum committee of the Dept of
Economics is proposing modifications to the BComm (EMS) program. The changes to the curriculum of the
EMS program primarily involve the timing of when courses are taken. The proposed changes have been
approved by the departmental council of Economics and endorsed by the Ted Rogers Business Management
Council.
Rationale: Students in the BA in International Economics and Finance take all of their mathematics and
most of their basic statistics courses before taking the intermediate (and possibly advanced)
microeconomics and macroeconomics course sequences. Thus, in terms of numerate skills, the
International Economics and Finance students are adequately prepared to take these courses. The EMS
students do not take any statistics courses in year 2 and thus forget what they have learned by year 3. QMS
522 Linear Algebra taken in year 3 builds on QMS 702 Calculus for Business taken in the 3rd semester.
However it provides an insufficient mathematical background for the intermediate and advanced Economics
(ECN) courses taken by EMS students. The proposed changes to the EMS curriculum address these
deficiencies. Courses in the first three semesters remain the same.
Structure of the Proposed Changes: There are no changes in Year 1 or Fall semester of Year 2. The
proposed changes are summarized in the following comparison chart. * = courses repositioned to a later
point in the degree; ** = courses to replace the repositioned * courses; *** = course redefined as required
from Professional-elective; # = reposition required course from Y4 to Y3; ## = delete from Y3 required and
replace with a course which is currently a Y3 elective. Note: The currently separate Professional-elective
tables for Y3 and Y4 will be merged into a single table (Table 1) to be used in Y4 only.
CURRENT CURRICULUM PROPOSED CURRICULUM
YEAR 2 – WINTER
CMN 279† Introduction to Contemporary Business
Communication
*ECN 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics I
*ECN 504 Intermediate Microeconomics I
FIN 401 Managerial Finance II
LAW 122† Business Law
Lower Level Liberal Studies
CMN 279† Introduction to Contemporary Business
Communication
**QMS 442 Multiple Regression for Business
**GMS 512 Mgmt. Decision Making IV: Algebra &
Optimization
FIN 401 Managerial Finance II
LAW 122† Business Law
Lower Level Liberal Studies
YEAR 3
**QMS 442 Multiple Regression for Business
**QMS 522 Linear Algebra
Four courses from the following
ECN 501 Industrial Organization
ECN 506 Money and Banking
***ECN 600 Intermediate Macroeconomics II
ECN 614 An Introduction to Game Theory
***ECN 700 Intermediate Microeconomics II
##QMS 703 Business Forecasting Techniques
Two courses from Upper Level Liberal Studies
Two courses from Table I. Of the five courses required
between 5th and 8th semesters, no more than one ECN/QMS
course can be taken.
*ECN 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics I
*ECN 504 Intermediate Microeconomics I
#ECN 627 Econometrics I
***ECN 600 Intermediate Macroeconomics II
***ECN 700 Intermediate Microeconomics II
##QMS 703 Business Forecasting
Two courses from Upper Level Liberal Studies
Two courses from Table I. No ECN/QMS course can be taken
from Table I between 5th and 8th semesters.
YEAR 4
BUS 800 Strategic Management
#ECN 627 Econometrics I
Upper Level Liberal Studies
Four courses from the following, one of which must have a
QMS prefix:
ECN 502 Economics of Natural Resources
ECN 510 Environmental Economics
ECN 605 Labour Economics
ECN 606 International Monetary Economics
ECN 702 Econometrics II
ECN 703 Public Finance I
BUS 800 Strategic Management
Upper Level Liberal Studies
Four or Five courses from the following:
ECN 321 Introduction to Law and Economics
ECN 501 Industrial Organization
ECN 502 Economics of Natural Resources
ECN 503 Economic Development
ECN 506 Money and Banking
ECN 507 History of Economic Thought
ECN 707 Economics of International Trade
ECN 710 Transportation Economics
ECN 715 Advanced Microeconomics
ECN 803 Public Finance II
ECN 815 Advanced Macroeconomics
QMS 521 Business Optimization
QMS 751 Decision Models for Managers
Three courses from Table I. Of the five courses required
between 5th and 8th semesters, no more than one ECN/QMS
course can be taken.
ECN 510 Environmental Economics
ECN 601 The Economics of Information
ECN 605 Labour Economics
ECN 606 International Monetary Economics
ECN 609 Topics in Economic History
ECN 614 An Introduction to Game Theory
ECN 640 The Economics of Immigration
ECN 702 Econometrics II
ECN 703 Public Finance I
ECN 707 Economics of International Trade
ECN 715 Advanced Microeconomics
ECN 803 Public Finance II
ECN 815 Advanced Macroeconomics
Three or four courses from Table I. No ECN/QMS course
can be taken from Table I between 5th and 8th semesters.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
curriculum modifications to the Bachelor of Commerce (Business Management) Economics and
Management Science Major.
D. CURRICULUM MODIFICATIONS TO THE BACHELOR OF ARTS
(INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS AND FINANCE) TO HARMONIZE WITH
THE COMMON ARTS PLATFORM
Proposal: The Department of Economics seeks to harmonize (though not fully join) the BA in International
Economics and Finance with the one-year common platform adopted by the Faculty of Arts.
Rationale: The restructuring is intended to enhance the opportunity for students to transfer in and out of
International Economics and Finance into all of the Arts programs that currently share the one-year common
platform. This includes Criminal Justice, English Politics and Governance, Psychology, Sociology,
Environmental and Urban Sustainability, History, and Philosophy.
Structure of the Proposed Changes: The general structure of the common Arts platform is
described in the following table:
1st Year (10 courses)
Two Program Courses
SSH 105: Critical Thinking I
SSH 205: The Fundamentals of Academic Writing
Two Required Humanities Electives from Table I
Two Required Social Science Electives from Table I
Non-Arts Elective from Table III
Arts or Non-Arts Elective from Table III or IV (Professionally Related table)
Tables I, III and IV are presented in the full proposal. In total, students choose between 6 and 8
electives from these tables over the course of the degree. Of these, students may choose 2 or 3
from Table I and 4 to 6 from a combination of selections from Tables III and IV.
The following table presents the current and revised curricula side-by-side for comparison. * courses
are being removed from the current required curriculum; ** courses are part of the common
platform and are being added. *** are new or revised courses, # are liberal studies. ## courses are
arts/non-art electives from revised Tables I, III or IV.
CURRENT CURRICULUM PROPOSED CURRICULUM
YEAR 1 – FALL
ECN 104 Introductory Microeconomics ECN 104 Introductory Microeconomics
ECN 220 Evolution and the Global Economy ECN 220 Evolution and the Global Economy
MTH 189 Introduction to Mathematics for
Economics
MTH 189 Introduction to Mathematics for Economics
#Lower Level Liberal Studies **SSH 105: Critical Thinking I
##Arts or Non-Arts Elective from PR Table I **Humanities or Social Sciences Elective from Table I
YEAR 1 – WINTER
ECN 204 Introductory Macroeconomics ECN 204 Introductory Macroeconomics
ECN 230 Mathematics for Economics ECN 230 Mathematics for Economics
ECN 320 Introduction to Financial Economics **SSH 205: Academic Writing and Research
#Lower Level Liberal Studies **Humanities or Social Sciences Elective from Table I
*Required Group 1 (French or Spanish) ##Arts or Non-Arts Elective from Table I, III or IV
YEAR 2 – FALL
ECN 129 Statistics for Economics I ECN 129 Statistics for Economics I
ECN 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics I ECN 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics I
ECN 504 Intermediate Microeconomics I ECN 504 Intermediate Microeconomics I
*Required Group 1 (French or Spanish) ECN 320 Introduction to Financial Economics
#Lower Level Liberal Studies #Lower Level Liberal Studies
YEAR 2 – WINTER
ECN 329 Statistics for Economics II ECN 329 Statistics for Economics II
ECN 600 Intermediate Macroeconomics II ECN 600 Intermediate Macroeconomics II
ECN 700 Intermediate Microeconomics II ECN 700 Intermediate Microeconomics II
FIN 401 Managerial Finance II FIN 401 Managerial Finance II
##Arts or Non-Arts Elective from PR Table I #Lower Level Liberal Studies
YEAR 3 – FALL
ECN 627 Econometrics I ECN 627 Econometrics I
ECN 707 Economics of International Trade ECN 707 Economics of International Trade
FIN 501 Investment Analysis I FIN 501 Investment Analysis I
#Upper Level Liberal Studies #Upper Level Liberal Studies
##Arts or Non-Arts Elective from PR Table II ##Arts or Non-Arts Elective from Table III or IV
ECN 900 Internship or WKT 77A/B Intl Economics
Internship Program
YEAR 3 – WINTER
*ECN 501 Industrial Organization ***ECN 620 Applied Economic Analysis
ECN 606 International Monetary Economics ECN 606 International Monetary Economics
ECN 702 Econometrics II ECN 702 Econometrics II
FIN 601 Investment Analysis II FIN 601 Investment Analysis II
#Upper Level Liberal Studies #Upper Level Liberal Studies
YEAR 4
ECN 720 Seminar ***ECN 720 Applied Research Methods
*HST 500 Modern International Relations
ECN 900 Internship or WKT 77A/B Intl
Economics Internship Program
ECN 820 Project
ECN 821 Country Risk Analysis
#Upper Level Liberal Studies #Two courses from Upper Level Liberal Studies
##Arts or Non-Arts Elective from PR Table II ##Two to Four courses in Arts or Non-Arts Electives
from Table III or IV
Four courses from Required Group 2 Three to Five courses from Required Group 2
The proposed program modifications do not place the BA (International Economics and Finance) fully within
the common Arts platform. The math requirements for the BA (International Economics and Finance) prevent
full integration. Further, the admission requirements of the BA (International Economics and Finance) are not
the same as those for the other common platform BA programs. These facts mean that a student wishing to
transfer from the revised BA (International Economics and Finance) to a common Arts program will have to
seek admission to that program (this is currently the case as well). However, the revised curriculum allows
the transfer student to carry 10 credits to the new BA program. With the current curriculum, virtually no
transfer credits exist. It should be noted that the Faculty of Arts strongly endorses these proposed changes.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
curriculum modifications to the Bachelor of Arts (International Economics and Finance) program.
E. CURRICULUM MODIFICATIONS TO THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
(BIOLOGY) PROGRAM- REGULAR PROGRAM
A Series of Proposals: This proposal suggests modifications to the program core and is the first of a
series. The subsequent proposals, presented below, are designed to (i) increase the ease of pursuing current
options within the biology program that are constrained by interdisciplinary curricular availability and
structure, and (ii) to increase the number of options within the program. An additional proposal presents
changes to the biology minor.
Proposal- Core Program: The Biology program is proposing a significant restructuring of the BSc
(Biology) core program. The restructuring includes introducing additional required core discipline courses,
repositioning of discipline courses and moving several courses from the required to the elective category.
The proposed changes have no impact on the common first year science structure.
Rationale for the Proposed Change: The restructuring is intended to:
1. Ensure that students are exposed to all basic biology concepts normally encountered in a university-
level biology degree;
2. Ensure that Ryerson biology graduates are competitive;
3. Provide both breadth of coverage of biology concepts with opportunities to achieve additional
depth in biology.
Structure of the Proposed Changes: The proposed changes include: (i) introduction of three
additional required discipline courses (the existing BLG 567 Ecology and two new courses BLG 315 Evolution
and BLG 316 Zoology) into the program core and (ii) a repositioning of two current required BLG courses
(BLG 230 Botany and BLG 400 Genetics) from Y3 to Y2.
In addition, the elective courses in Table I are divided into two distinct groups: one containing biology and
biochemistry courses (Group A) and the other containing biology and non-biology courses (Group B).
Students will be required to select 4 courses from Group A (i.e., they are professional electives). The
remaining 6 elective slots (Group B) can be used towards a minor or to pursue one of the BSc (Biology)
program options (e.g., Biophysics). With this configuration, a student will graduate with at least 18 biology
and biochemistry courses, either required or elective.
To accommodate these changes, MTH480, Statistics II, CHY242 Organic Chemistry II, and BLG251
Microbiology II will be removed from the core and placed in the professionally related elective category.
Finally, the liberal study courses offered in 3rd semester would be moved to 5th semester.
A comparison of the current and proposed curricula is provided below. BOLD highlighted indicates a new
placement of course, * indicates a new course.
Biology Regular Program Curriculum (Current vs Proposed)
Current Curriculum Proposed Curriculum
First semester Course First semester
BLG 143 Biology I Unchanged
CHY 103 General Chemistry I
CPS 118 Intro Programming
MTH 131 Modern Mathematics I
PCS 120 Physics I
SCI 180 Orientation
Second semester Course Second semester
BLG 144 Biology II Unchanged
CHY 113 General Chemistry II
MTH 231 Modern Mathematics II
PCS 130 Physics II
Liberal Table A
Third Semester Course Third Semester
BLG151 Microbiology I Unchanged
BLG311 Cell Biology I
CHY142 Org. Chemistry I
MTH380 Prob & Stats I
Liberal Table A BLG230 Botany
Fourth Semester Course Fourth Semester Course
BCH261 Biochemistry BCH261 Biochemistry
BLG251 Microbiology II BLG400 Genetics
CHY242 Org. Chem II BLG316 Zoology*
MTH480 Prob. & Stats II BLG567 Ecology
Liberals Table A Liberals Table A
Fifth Semester Course Fifth Semester Course
BCH361 Adv. Biochem I BCH361 Adv. Biochem I
BLG307 Molecular Biology BLG307 Molecular Biology
BLG400 Genetics Elective Table I
BLG230 Botany Liberals Table A
Elective Table 1 Elective Table I
Sixth Semester Course Sixth Semester Course
BCH362 Adv. Biochem II BCH362 Adv. Biochem II
BLG340 Env. Biology BLG315 Evolution*
CMN600 Communications BLG 888 Mol Biol Lab
Elective Table I Elective Table I
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Seventh Semester Course Seventh Semester Course
BLG888 Molecular Biol Lab. Elective Table I
Elective Table 1 Elective Table I
Elective Table 1 Elective Table I
Elective Table 1 Elective Table I
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Eighth Semester Course Eighth Semester Course
Elective Table 1 CMN 600 Communications
Elective Table 1 Elective Table I
Elective Table 1 Elective Table I
Elective Table 1 Elective Table I
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
curriculum modifications to the Bachelor of Science (Biology) regular program.
F. CURRICULUM MODIFICATIONS TO THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
(BIOLOGY) PROGRAM- OPTION IN BIOPHYSICS AND OPTION IN
BIOINFORMATICS/COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
Proposal: The Biology program is proposing a restructuring of the Biophysics option and the
Bioinfomatics/Computational Biology option.
Rationale for the Proposed Change: The restructuring is intended to:
1. Biophysics- to address mathematics gaps in the option and to synchronize the physics courses in the
option with a new sequence implemented within the BSc (Medical Physics) program;
2. Bioinformatics/Computational Biology- to enhance uptake of this option by synchronizing the flow
of its curriculum with courses offered for students in this option by other departments (e.g.,
mathematics).
Structure of the Proposed Changes:
Biophysics: Add 4 fundamental mathematics and physics courses (MTH330 Calculus and Geometry, PSC 300
Modern Physics, PCS 400 Quantum Physics I and PCS 229 Introduction to Medical Physics) to the first year of
the option (semesters 5 and 6). These courses are prerequisites for courses taken in semester 7 and 8. To
make room for the addition of these courses to semester 5, three courses currently in semester 5, (PCS 352
Nuclear Physics/Radiation Protection,PCS354 Radiation Biology and BLG307 Molecular Biology) are moved
from semester 5 and placed in semester 7. To facilitate these changes and the requirement for PR electives
from Tables II and III will be reduced to one (from 4) and three (from 5), respectively.
Bioinformatics/Computational Biology: Add MTH 110 Discrete Mathematics and MTH 330 Calculus and
Geometry to the first year of the option (semester 5). The two courses CPS 313 Advanced Programming for
Scientists and MTH 607 Graph Theory are moved from semesters 5 and 6 to semesters 7 and 8, respectively.
The courses CPS 315 Database Applications for Scientists and CPS 815 Analysis of Algorithms are deleted
from the curriculum (neither has ever been offered) and replaced with BLG 888 Molecular Biology
Laboratory and an elective.
Comparisons of the current and proposed curricula are provided on the following pages. The detailed
curriculum is provided in the proposal. Note that BOLD highlighting refers to repositioned courses.
Changes to the Biophysics Option (Current vs Proposed)
Current Curriculum Proposed Curriculum- No changes to S1 to S4
Fifth Semester Course Fifth Semester Course
BCH361 Adv. Biochem I BCH361 Adv. Biochem I
BLG307 Molecular Biology MTH 330 Geometry and Calculus
BLG352 Nuclear physics PCS 300 Modern Physics
BLG354 Radiation biology PCS 229 Intro Med Physics
Elective Table 1 Liberals Table A
Sixth Semester Course Sixth Semester Course
BCH362 Adv. Biochem II BCH362 Adv. Biochem II
BLG340 Env. Biology BLG315 Evolution
PCS 227 Biophysics PCS 227 Biophysics
CMN600 Communications PCS 400 Quantum Physics I
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Seventh Semester Course Seventh Semester Course
Elective Table II PCS 352 Nuclear Phy &Radiation
Elective Table II PCS 354 Radiation Biology
Elective Table III BLG307 Molecular Biology
Elective Table III Elective Table III
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Eighth Semester Course Eighth Semester Course
Elective Table II CMN 600 Communications
Elective Table II Elective Table II
Elective Table III Elective Table III
Elective Table III Elective Table III
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Changes to the Bioinformatics/Computational Biology Option (Current vs Proposed)
Current Curriculum Proposed Curriculum- No changes to S1 to S4
Fifth Semester Course Fifth Semester Course
BLG 307 Molecular Biology BLG 307 Molecular Biology
CHY 213 Analytical Chemistry I MTH 110 Discrete Math
BCH 361 Adv Biochem I BCH 361 Adv Biochem I
CPS 313 Adv Prog for scientists MTH 330 Calculus/Geometry
Liberal Table B Liberal Table A
Sixth Semester Course Sixth Semester Course
BCH362 Adv. Biochem II BCH 362 Adv Biochem II
CPS 411 Data Structures CPS 411 Data Structures
MTH 500 Intro Stochastic Proc MTH 500 Intro Stochastic Proc
MTH 607 Graph Theory BLG315 Evolution
CMN600 Communications Liberals Table B
Seventh Semester Course Seventh Semester Course
CPS 315 Databases Structures
Scientists
BLG 800 Proteomics and Genomics
CPS 501/BME 501 Bioinformatics CPS 501/BME 501 Bioinformatics
Elective Table IV CPS 313 Adv Prog for scientists
Elective Table IV Elective Table IV
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Eighth Semester Course Eighth Semester Course
BLG 800 Proteomics and Genomics CMN 600 Communications
CPS 815 Analysis of Algorithms BLG 888 Molecular Biol Lab
Elective Table IV MTH 607 Graph theory
Elective Table IV Elective Table IV
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of these proposals, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
curriculum modifications to the Bachelor of Science (Biology) options in Biophysics and
Bioinformatics/Computational Biology.
G. CURRICULUM MODIFICATIONS TO THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
(BIOLOGY) PROGRAM- A NEW OPTION IN ENVIRONMENTAL
BIOLOGY
Proposal: The Biology program is proposing to introduce a new option in Environmental Biology within
the BSc (Biology) degree.
Rationale for the New Option: The environment is one of the Planet’s most pressing concerns and
there is a need for trained professionals in industries, government, and regulatory agencies that deal with
environmental issues. The proposed new option will:
1. Provide more focused curriculum,
2. Diversify Biology offerings,
3. Provide more spaces in the Biology program to accommodate the growing demand for Biology at
Ryerson,
4. Increase the marketability and profile of the Ryerson Biology program and its graduates,
5. Increase employment opportunities for graduates,
6. Prepare graduates for a wider range of graduate program options.
This new option provides students with an opportunity to acquire additional depth in the environmental
biology sub-discipline, an area in which the department has substantial expertise. It would become part of a
package of options including the core Biology program, the current options in Biophyics and in
Bioinformatics/Computational Biology.
Structure of the Proposed New Option:
The new option will provide a curriculum that emphasizes environmental biology but with an inter-
disciplinary approach that merges chemistry, engineering and other pertinent fields. Students will not only
have an appreciation for ecological systems and biological communities, but will also be literate in biometry
and analytical techniques.
The first years of the program remains unchanged from the current common first year. The second year is to
be identical to the modified second year of the core Biology program (see section E, above). The divergence
from the core program begins in year 3. The detailed curriculum structure is presented below. Courses
highlighted in BOLD are courses in new positions, * identifies a new course.
Environmental Biology Option: Detailed Curriculum
Biology Core Program Curriculum Proposed Curriculum
First semester Course First semester
BLG 143 Biology I Unchanged
CHY 103 General Chemistry I
CPS 118 Intro Programming
MTH 131 Modern Mathematics I
PCS 120 Physics I
SCI 180 Orientation
Second semester Course Second semester
BLG 144 Biology II unchanged
CHY 113 General Chemistry II
MTH 231 Modern Mathematics II
PCS 130 Physics II
Liberal Table A
Third Semester Course Third Semester
BLG151 Microbiology I Same as regular program
BLG311 Cell Biology I
CHY142 Org. Chemistry I
MTH380 Prob & Stats I
BLG230 Botany
Fourth Semester Course Fourth Semester Course
BCH261 Biochemistry Same as regular program
BLG400 Genetics
BLG316 Zoology
BLG567 Ecology
Liberals Table A
Fifth Semester Course Fifth Semester Course
BCH361 Adv. Biochem I BCH361 Adv. Biochem I
BLG307 Molecular Biology BLG351 Applied Microbiology
Elective Table I BLG409 Biometry
Elective Table I BLG803 Ecosystem Processes*
Liberal Table A Liberal Table A
Sixth Semester Course Sixth Semester Course
BCH362 Adv. Biochem II BLG340 Environmental Biology
BLG315 Evolution BLG315 Evolution
BLG 888 Mol Biol Lab CHY423 Environmental Science
Elective Table I Elective Table V
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Seventh Semester Course Seventh Semester Course
Elective Table I BLG401 Ecotoxicology
Elective Table I Elective Table V
Elective Table I Elective Table V
Elective Table I Elective Table V
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Eighth Semester Course Eighth Semester Course
CMN 600 Communications CMN 600 Communications
Elective Table I Elective Table V
Elective Table I Elective Table V
Elective Table I Elective Table V
Liberals Table B Liberals Table B
Timeline:
Note that the new courses for this option are Y3 and Y4 courses. For a Fall 2012 launch this means the first
cohort of students eligible to select this option would be the Fall 2011 intake. This implies the first offering
of these courses would be Fall 2013.
Resources:
Five New Courses: The option requires the creation of 5 new courses: Ecosystem Processes, Entomology,
Plant Diversity, Conservation Biology and Water Quality and Environmental Management. Of these, only
BLG803 (Ecosystem Processes) is required. The other four are part of the program’s P/PR Table V. All of
these will be cross listed as professionally related electives for the regular biology program. Note that only
one of these, Ecosystem Processes, needs to be offered each year as it is required for the option. The other
4 can be offered in rotation.
New Faculty: The proposal suggests that 1 new faculty hire will be required to make this option viable. The
University Planning Office has confirmed that this is viable with an incremental increase in first-year target
enrolment of 12. The Biology program has agreed to accept this level of growth.
Minor Curriculum Modification or Major Curriculum Modification?
This is a new option created to be combined with an existing approved program. The new option represents
a modest change in the overall degree content (change of 6 courses in 41 or ~ 15%). Total laboratory hours
in the proposed option are nearly the same as in the regular program, less by 1.5 h over the course of the
degree. The total number of laboratory hours is the same as for the current Biophysics option. There is no
addition or deletion of a capstone thesis course. Therefore the proposed changes do not meet the criteria
for a major curriculum modification as defined by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance as
expressed in Ryerson’s Institutional Quality Assurance Process (Senate Policy 127).
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed new option in Environmental Biology for the Bachelor of Science (Biology) program.
H. CHANGING THE NAME OF THE MINOR IN BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION TO MINOR IN PROFESSIONAL COMMMUNICATION
Proposal: The School of Professional Communication (ProCOMM) is proposing to rename its six-course
minor in Business Communication to “Minor in Professional Communication”.
Rationale: The proposal provides five rationales for the proposed change. The name change will:
1. Ensure consistency with School branding;
2. Support recognition of Professional Communication as a distinct discipline of study and practice;
3. Reflect and support current and developing ProCOMM curriculum (e.g., the proposed BA degree
program, possible double majors);
4. Appeal to the diversity of ProCOMM program partners which is much broader than areas related to
business;
5. Reflect more accurately the faculty members’ diversity of SRC activities.
The proposal has been approved by the School Council and has the support of the Dean of FCAD. Approval
has also been granted by 17 programs across campus.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the name
change from the Minor in Business Communication to the Minor in Professional Communication.
I. REVISIONS TO THE MINOR IN BIOLOGY
Proposal: The Biology program is proposing changes to its current six-course minor.
Rationale for the Proposed Change: The current six-course minor requires completion of two
introductory biology courses before the courses in the minor can be taken. In effect, it is an eight-course
minor. The proposed changes will allow a greater number of students to complete the minor without having
to do extra courses.
Structure of the Proposed Change: The two introductory biology courses, BLG 143 and BLG 144,
become the two required courses for the minor. The previous three required courses, BLG 151, BLG 311 and
BLG 400 now become part of the group of elective courses from which the remaining four courses for the
minor can be selected. Further, the courses BCH 261, BCH 361, BCH 362, BLG 230, BLG 312, BLG 315 and
BLG 316 are to be added to the elective group for this minor. The detailed modifications are provided below:
PROPOSED MINOR: To receive the Minor, a student must complete six courses from the following course
of study:
BLG 143 BLG 144
And four of the following:
BLG 151 BLG 315* BLG 567 BLG 788 BCH 362*
BLG 230* BLG 316* BLG 578 BLG 800
BLG 251 BLG 351 BLG 600 BLG 856
BLG 307 BLG 400 BLG 678 BLG 888
BLG 311 BLG 401 BLG 700 BCH 261*
BLG 312* BLG 402 BLG 785 BCH 361*
Courses in BOLD have been moved from the required to elective category. Courses marked with * are new
to the list of electives.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed revisions to the Minor in Biology.
J. REVISIONS TO THE MINOR IN ECONOMICS
Proposal: The Department of Economics is proposing changes to its current six-course minor.
Rationale for the Proposed Change: The current six-course minor requires completion of two
introductory economics courses before the courses in the minor can be taken. In effect, it is an eight-course
minor. The proposed changes will allow a greater number of students to complete the minor without having
to do extra courses.
Structure of the Proposed Change: The two introductory economics courses, ECN 104 and ECN
204, become the two required courses for the minor. The previous two required courses, ECN 301 and ECN
504, had ECN 104 and ECN 204 as pre-requisites. These former required courses now become part of the
elective group from which the remaining four courses for the minor can be selected. The detailed revision is:
PROPOSED MINOR:
To receive the Minor, a student must complete six courses from the following course of study: Required: ECN 104 ECN 204 Four of the following including at least one of ECN301 or ECN504: ECN 301 ECN 510 ECN 627 ECN 715 ECN 321 ECN 600 ECN 700 ECN 801 ECN 501 ECN 601 ECN 702 ECN 803 ECN 502 ECN 605 ECN 703 ECN 808 ECN 504 ECN 606 ECN 707 ECN 815 ECN 506 ECN 614 ECN 710 GMS 402
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed revision to the Minor in Economics.
K. REVISIONS TO THE MINOR IN PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION
Proposal: The Department of Politics is proposing modifications to its six-course Minor in Public
Administration.
Rationale for the Proposed Changes: The proposed changes introduce alternative courses which
cover very similar material to four of the current Minor’s courses. The intention with the change is to
enhance student choice within the Minor by ensuring that students who take a course covering subject
matter deemed suitable for the inclusion in the Minor are able to use that course to achieve the Minor. In
addition, one course no longer central to the Public Administration program is deleted and replaced by
another course.
Structure of the Proposed Changes: The proposed changes include:
1. remove POG443 from the course listing. This course is no longer central to the Public
Administration program and therefore should not be part of the Public Administration Minor.
2. add PPA402 to the course listing. This course has assumed increased prominence in the Public
Administration program, so it should be an option available to students pursuing the Minor.
3. provide “POG-course” alternatives to students where the Department has two courses covering
similar subject material. The alternatives are: PPA121 OR POG310; PPA124 OR POG440; PPA125 OR
POG315; PPA425 OR POG416. The alternative courses as options within the Minor will maximise the
opportunity of students in other programs to earn a Public Administration Minor. Public
Administration courses (PPA prefix) are often offered only in the evening, whereas Politics courses
(POG) are usually offered only in the day.
PROPOSED MINOR:
To receive the Minor, a student must complete six courses from the following course of study:
REQUIRED:
PPA 101 and PPA 102
Two of the following:
POL 101 PPA 124 or POG 440
POL 102 PPA 125 or POG 315
PPA 120 PPA 319
PPA 121 or POG 310 PPA 425 or POG 416
PPA 122 or POL 123 or POG 410
Two of the following:
PPA 211 PPA 401
PPA 301 PPA 402
PPA 303 or INP 915 PPA 403
PPA 335
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed revisions to the Minor in Public Administration.
L. REVISIONS TO THE MINOR IN POLITICS
Proposal: The Department of Politics is proposing modifications to its six-course Minor in Politics.
Rationale for the Proposed Changes: The proposed changes are in the spirit of the new Minors
Policy. They introduce liberal studies into the Minor’s curriculum. They also introduce alternative courses
which cover very similar material to four of the current Minor’s courses. The intention with the latter change
is to enhance student choice within the Minor by ensuring that students who take a course covering subject
matter deemed suitable for the inclusion in the Minor are able to use that course to achieve the Minor.
Structure of the Proposed Changes: The first proposed change, which facilitates the use of up to
two Liberal Studies electives to satisfy the requirements of a Minor, is to include Politics Liberal Studies
courses as course options in the Minor. The Department also proposes a system of tagging LS courses in the
Minor’s curriculum to facilitate clarity on the part of students about the choices they have.
The second proposed change is the inclusion of Public Administration (PPA) alternatives to Politics
(POG) courses where they exist. This involves the courses: PPA121 OR POG310; PPA124 OR
POG440; PPA125 OR POG315; PPA425 OR POG416.
PROPOSED MINOR: To receive the Minor, a student must complete six courses from the
following course of study. Note that a maximum of TWO (2) Liberal Studies electives
(those identified “LS” below) may be used to satisfy the requirements of the Minor.
A minimum of two to a maximum of four of the following:
POG 100
POG 110
POG 210
POG 214 or PPA 211
POG 225
POG 235
POG 240
POG 320
POL 106 (LS)
POL 128 (LS)
POL 129 (LS)
POL 203 (LS)
POL 208 (LS)
A minimum of two to a maximum of four from the following:
INP 900 POG 430
POG 310 or PPA 121 POG 431
POG 313
POG 440 or CRM 400 or PPA 124
POG 315 or PPA 125 POG 442
POG 316 POG 443
POG 317 POG 444
POG 323 POG 446
POG 410 or PPA 122 or POL 123 POL 501 (LS)
POG 411 POL 507 (LS)
POG 412 POL 510 (LS)
POG 415 POL 511 (LS)
POG 416 or PPA 425 POL 540 (LS)
POG 417 POL 588 (LS)
POG 423 POL 601 (LS)
POG 424 POL 607 (LS)
POG 425 POL 688 (LS)
POG 426 POL 720 (LS)
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed revisions to the Minor in Politics.
M. PROPSOAL FOR A NEW MINOR IN BUSINESS ESSENTIALS
Proposal: TRSM is proposing a new six-course minor in Business Essentials. This broad-focus minor is
targeted at undergraduate students in the Faculties of Arts, Community Services Communication and Design
as well as Engineering, Architecture and Science. The six-course minor package can also be used as a
business module within an interdisciplinary program such as the proposed Bachelor of Arts (Creative
Industries), should the latter eventually be launched.
Rationale for the Minor: The minor is intended to provide non-Business students with broad
knowledge and skills related to business. This general business curriculum may enhance their employment
opportunities. The minor augments the current suite of minors offered by TRSM- while they all focus on
particular functional areas of business (e.g., Marketing) or sector (e.g., Retail), the proposed minor will
provide a boarder perspective. The minor will also emphasize quantitative skills.
Objectives of the Minor: The minor will provide non-Business students with:
A fundamental understanding of the structure of business and the operation of both the national
and global market places;
An introduction to the terms, concepts and nomenclature of business;
Basic knowledge about the functional areas of business and how they are integrated for strategic
decision making;
An appreciation of the importance of finance and accounting in business success.
Structure of the Proposed Minor: The basic structure of the minor is three required courses and
three elective courses. Two of the required courses are foundational; the third is a capstone course.
Consistency with the Ryerson policy on Minors: The minor is consistent with Policy 148.
Curriculum: The proposed curriculum is presented below. This minor will not be open to any students
registered in a TRSM program, but rather is targeted exclusively to non-business students.
Required Courses:
BSM100 The New Business: From Idea to Reality
BSM200 The Growing Business: Breaking Even
BSM600 The Mature Business: Market Dominance or Failure
Electives (Select 3):
GMS410 Management in the Large Corporation
ENT505 Small-business Management
FIN305 Financial Management
GMS455 Project Planning and Delivery
ITM355 Online Business
MKT310 Marketing Plans
ENT520 New Venture Creation
GMS520 Fundamentals of International Business
The two required foundations courses (BSM100 and BSM200) present an integrated curriculum which
prepares students for the electives. BSM600 acts as a capstone to deepen student understanding of
business from a strategic perspective. The content of these new courses is built from the content of existing
courses to meet the overarching goal of the minor to provide broad-based business knowledge and skills.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed new Minor in Business Essentials.
N. PROPSOAL FOR A NEW MINOR IN PHYSICS
Proposal: The Dept of Physics is proposing a six-course minor in Physics. The minor is designed to be
accessible to science and engineering students.
Rationale for the Minor: In today’s technological world, Physics knowledge is useful for an informed
citizen who wants to contribute effectively to a better society. Achieving the Physics minor will also be of
interest as a teachable subject to students planning a career as a high school science teacher.
Objectives of the Minor: The minor will provide non-Physics students with the opportunity to:
gain knowledge and problem solving skills in Physics;
explore a field other than their own;
obtain an additional level of qualification (e.g., an additional teachable subject).;
Structure of the Proposed Minor: The basic structure of the minor is three required courses and
three elective courses.
Consistency with the Ryerson policy on Minors: The minor is consistent with Policy 148.
Curriculum: The proposed curriculum is presented below. All courses currently exist as part of the BSc
(Medical Physics) program. No new courses are being proposed. As required by policy, a maximum of two
“core” courses (Professional required, Professional elective or Professionally Related required) from a
student’s program may be applied to the Physics minor provided those courses are part of the Physics minor
curriculum.
Required Courses:
Either (PCS 120 and PCS 130) or (PCS 211 and PCS 125)
and
PCS 228 or PCS 300
where
PCS 120 (Physics I) and PCS 130 (Physics II) are required course for all Science students;
PCS 211 (Physics: Mechanics) and PCS 125 (Physics: Waves and Fields) are required courses for all
Engineering students.
Electives Courses: Select 3 from
PCS 107 (Natural Context); PCS 110 (Physics); PCS 224 (Solid State Physics); PCS 227 (Biophysics); PCS 228
(Electricity and Magnetism); PCS 300 (Modern Physics); PCS 230 (Photonics and Optical Devices); PCS 335
(Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics); PCS 352 (Nuclear Physics/Radiation Protection); PCS 358
(Mechanics); PCS 400 (Quantum Physics I); PCS 510 (Astrophysics); PCS 7009 Quantum Physics II); PCS 724
(Condensed Matter).
Pre-requisites: Due to the technical nature of many of the electives, they have PCS pre-requisites and, in
many cases, mathematics (MTH) pre-requisites. The MTH pre-requisites are external to the minor. All
science students and all engineering students have required MTH courses in their programs which are
suitable pre-requisites for the elective PCS courses in the minor.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed new Minor in Physics.
O. PROPSOAL FOR A NEW MINOR IN LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS
Proposal: The Department of Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour is proposing
a six-course minor in Labour and Employment Relations (LER). This interdisciplinary minor is intended for
students from a wide range of disciplines across Ryerson.
Rationale for the Minor: LER is a broad and interdisciplinary field of study, concerned with
understanding all aspects of work and employment in society. While there is currently no Ryerson program
in this field, many relevant courses are already offered and taught regularly by Ryerson departments. The
Minor program structure utilizes these already existing Ryerson courses in a manner designed to both
advance students’ exposure to this field, and to further student intellectual diversity and interdisciplinary
studies. The Minor may stimulate further curriculum development opportunities. As well, the Minor
provides student learning opportunities connected to the recently established Ryerson Centre for Labour-
Management Relations.
Objectives of the Minor:
Students will acquire both a broader and more intensive understanding of work and employment
relations in Canada;
Students will gain an appreciation of the multiple, and often competing, paradigmatic perspectives
and theoretical frameworks for examining LER;
The intellectual training provided in the Minor may further student opportunities to undertake
graduate studies in LER;
Completion of the Minor may also further student preparation for certain professionally-related
opportunities in LER.
Consistency with the Ryerson policy on Minors: The proposed minor is consistent with Policy
148. Under this policy, students are able to apply two required or compulsory courses from their own
programs. The Minor takes this into account and enables students from most faculties at Ryerson to
complete the Minor, including those in the Major offered by the HRM/OB department. The program design
does not include any intentional exclusion of any program.
Curriculum: The proposed curriculum is presented below. All of the courses included in the Minor are
offered annually by their respective teaching departments, other than in extraordinary circumstances. Note
that there are no new courses being proposed as part of this Minor. To obtain the Minor a student must
complete:
a) MHR 522 – Industrial Relations b) Two of the following:
MHR 405 – Organizational Behaviour
MHR 523 – Human Resources Management
MHR 600 - Diversity and Equity
MHR 711 - Occupational Health and Safety (OHS 718 is an anti-requisite)
MHR 721 – Negotiations and Conflict resolution
LAW 529 – Labour and Employment Law
c) Two of the following: SOC 472 – Sociology of Work and Occupations OR SOC 501 – Sociology of Work*
ECN 605 – Labour Economics
PPA 319 – Politics of Work and Labour
d) One additional course from group c) or from the following: POG 315 – Equity and Human Rights OR PPA 125 Rights, Equity and the State
SOC 606 - Sociology of Work and Families
OHS 208 - Occupational Health and Safety Law
* SOC501 is a Liberal Study course.
Recommendation
Having satisfied itself of the merit of this proposal, ASC recommends: That Senate approve the
proposed new Minor in Labour and Employment Relations.
Respectfully submitted,
Chris Evans, Chair for the Committee
ASC Members:
Keith Alnwick, Registrar Ian Baitz, Faculty of Communication and Design, Graphic Communications Management Jennifer Cartwright, Ted Rogers School of Management, Business Management, Student ASC Member Naomi Eichelaub, Librarian, Library Chris Evans, Vice-Chair and Vice Provost Academic Jacob Friedman, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Noel George, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Science, Chemistry and Biology Jacqui Gingras, Faculty of Community Services, Nutrition Des Glynn, Chang School of Continuing Education Andrew Hunter, Faculty of Arts, Philosophy Suanne Kelman, Faculty of Communication and Design, Journalism Tim McLaren, Ted Rogers School of Management, Information Technology Management Pamela Robinson, Faculty of Community Services, Urban and Regional Planning Diane Schulman, Secretary of Senate, Non-voting ASC Member John Turtle, Faculty of Arts, Psychology Andrew West, Faculty of Arts, Politics, Student ASC Member